3.3 What are the health risks of tobacco use for someone with schizophrenia?
People with schizophrenia are already at a higher risk for various health problems, and smoking only compounds these risks.
The sad truth is that many of the health problems faced by people with schizophrenia who smoke are avoidable, making the decision to quit smoking even more critical.
Tobacco use is linked to roughly half of all smokers dying prematurely due to complications related to smoking. This results in about 10 years of life lost for those affected.
Tobacco poses a significant health risk, contributing to conditions like cancer, lung disease, and heart problems. It also increases the likelihood of various other health issues that affect daily life and well-being, such as respiratory infections, reduced fertility, osteoporosis, ulcers, and diabetes.
Many of these problems stem from exposure to harmful gases produced when tobacco is burned – more than 70 of these gases are known to cause cancer.
Specific habits that aggravate the burden in smokers suffering from schizophrenia
People with schizophrenia often smoke more intensely and frequently than others, taking deeper and longer inhales which exposes them to higher levels of harmful chemicals in cigarettes.
They also tend to smoke more cigarettes and are more nicotine-dependent compared to those without schizophrenia.
Factors like lower education, unemployment, severe symptoms, high caffeine intake, and substance use disorders can contribute to their smoking habits.
But it’s not just smokers who are at risk.
Non-smokers who breathe in second-hand smoke are also in danger.
In the United States alone, exposure to tobacco smoke leads to the premature deaths of an estimated 50,000 people each year.
This stresses the far-reaching impact of tobacco use on both smokers and those around them.
Understanding the harmful effects of smoking is crucial to protecting the health and well-being of those living with schizophrenia.
